A research institute in Texas has announced it is developing a next-generation electronic warfare (EW) system for the US Air Force.
Part of a $4.8-million contract, the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) said its new EW system will be able to detect advanced enemy radar signals with “99-percent efficiency.”
It also demonstrated the successful integration of cutting-edge algorithms in a signal-congested test environment.
According to SwRI official Jarrett Holcomb, the system eliminates false detection, which is crucial on today’s battlefield.
“[False detections] force the pilot and plane to divert scarce resources to defeat an enemy that’s not there,” he said. “As we strive for the fastest detection rate possible, our algorithms provide unmatched accuracy.”
Staying Ahead of Enemies
SwRI explained that its new EW system features improved size, weight, power, and cost compared to other systems.
It reportedly requires fewer components to operate, thereby reducing maintenance expenses and logistical footprint.
Additionally, the tech will have an open architecture design to accommodate quick updates without having to replace or redesign the entire system.
Project lead Finley Hicks stressed the importance of maintaining the ability to operate in congested radio-frequency environments that contain a wide range of signals from military radars, cellular phones, and radios.
“It is important that the US stays ahead of the advanced and emerging radars of potential combatants,” he said, adding that the new EW system is “capable of outperforming existing and future enemy radar systems, even as they increase bandwidth, agility, and adaptability.”